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Indian priests reinstated at Pashupatinath temple

Kathmandu (Nepal) / Motihari (Bihar) : Nepal’s government withdrew its appointment of two head priests at the country’s most revered Hindu temple on Wednesday following protests in the capital. 

The Maoists, who run the country after winning elections last year, ended centuries of tradition last week when they replaced the Indians with Nepalese priests.

Hundreds of people came on road in jubilation on Thursday as Hindu devotees began a victory march to celebrate the return of Indian priests to Nepal’s 17th century Pashupatinath temple and pledge by the humbled Maoist government not to interfere in its management.

After nearly two weeks, the shrine, regarded as one of the eight holiest Hindu pilgrimage destinations, on Thursday returned to its nearly three-century-old routine with the main Indian priest, Mahabaleshwar Bairy, resuming the dail worship. 

Two days ago, people in Bairganiya (Sitamarhi) and Motihari (East Champaran) also staged demonstration against the Maoists interference in religion. They shouted slogans like “Down with Maoist government,” “Thief Prachanda leave the Country,” “Dont mix politics in religion,” and asked for halting of the prayers performed by the Maoist appointed priests.

“It is a victory for Hindus worldwide,” said Umesh Singh from Motihari in Bihar, a social activist and regular visitor to the temple.

All major political parties in Nepal protested the Government’s move and held demonstrations against the move. The Rastriya Janashkati Party headed by former Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa gave a call for mass disobedience saying “the Government, by not honouring the court order deliberately, has given a sound basis for the people to defy it”.

The Rastriya Janata Party that advocates restoration of the monarchy also took out a procession. People in the procession shouted slogans that the country will disintegrate as Maoists were attacking respected institutions of Nepal — monarchy, media, and the army. 

Protesters in Nepal blocked traffic to the world famous Pashupatinath temple, staging rallies in defiance of a ban in force, asking the Maoist government to keep off religion and respect the orders of the Supreme Court staying the sacking of Indian priests.

Hundreds of people including priests, Bhandaris, aides to the priests, civil society members and local residents came out shouting anti-Maoist slogans asking the government not to interfere in religion.

Located on the shore of the Bagmati river on the eastern part of Kathmandu, only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river.